Unfortunately, this is not a unique observation. The following link from
the Pollinator Partnership website is an article on the topic.
Unfortunately, no one seems sure what the cause of this problem is.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/environment/jan-june07/bees_04-03.html

Raymond E. Wickline
Supervisor
Criminal Intelligence and Tactical Crime Analysis Unit
Metropolitan Police Department
300 Indiana Ave NW
Room 5063
Washington, DC 20001

Direct: 202.727.8594
Office: 202.727.4289
Pager : 202.996.5207

-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of MICHAEL SPEICHER
Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2007 9:18 AM
To: 
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Birdbath birds - off topic (bees)

I meant to also mention that i have been shocked at
the dearth of pollinators (bees) in the yard and
elsewhere this season so far.  On a six mile hike on S
MTN near Gathland State Park on April 13th, i observed
a single bumble bee among the wildflowers.  On the
lawn the dandelions are virtually unvisited as are the
azalea's and, earlier, the forsythia again except for
a few bumbles.  The lone honey bee that i observed
recently took a wrong turn and wound up under my mower
wheel; it may have survived despite that (they usually
seem to), but it had a puny aspect to begin with...

Jim Speicher
jugornought?at?yahoo-dot-com
Bethesda  AT work :(
Broad Run_S. FRED Co  AT home :)



 
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